Appetizer · Asian · Dinner ·

Vietnamese Sugarcane Shrimp Skewers with Sweet Chili Sauce

Name: Vietnamese Sugarcane Shrimp Skewers with Sweet Chili Sauce
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 120 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Appetizer
Ingredients: 400g raw shrimp, peeled and deveined; 1 tablespoon fish sauce; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 teaspoon sugar; 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper; 8 pieces of sugarcane, peeled and cut into 4-inch sticks; 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, for brushing; 1/2 cup rice vinegar; 1/4 cup sugar; 1 tablespoon fish sauce; 1 clove garlic, minced; 1 red chili, finely chopped

This Vietnamese classic combines sweet, juicy sugarcane with savory shrimp, grilled to perfection and served with a delightful sweet chili dipping sauce.

4.7(802 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·August 25, 2025

Vietnamese Sugarcane Shrimp Skewers with Sweet Chili Sauce — Appetizer served and photographed from above

Prep

30 min

Cook

1 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Shrimp Paste

For the Skewers

For the Sweet Chili Sauce

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 235 kcal
Protein: 20.5 g
Carbs: 17.75 g
Fat: 7.8 g
Fiber: 0.29 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 938 kcal
Protein: 82 g
Carbs: 71 g
Fat: 31.2 g
Fiber: 1.15 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
400g raw shrimp peeled and deveined	400	80	0	4	0
1 tablespoon fish sauce	10	1	0	0	0
2 cloves garlic minced	9	0.5	2	0	0.1
1 teaspoon sugar	16	0	4	0	0
1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper	3	0	1	0.1	0.5
8 pieces of sugarcane peeled and cut into 4-inch sticks	40	0	10	0	0
2 tablespoons vegetable oil for brushing	240	0	0	27	0
1/2 cup rice vinegar	6	0	2	0	0
1/4 cup sugar	194	0	50	0	0
1 tablespoon fish sauce	10	1	0	0	0
1 clove garlic minced	4	0.2	1	0	0.05
1 red chili finely chopped	6	0.3	1	0.1	0.5

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Shrimp

1
Combine ingredients
In a food processor, combine shrimp, fish sauce, garlic, sugar, and white pepper.
2
Process to paste
Pulse until the mixture becomes a smooth paste.
3
Chill
Cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
Tip: Chilling helps the paste firm up, making it easier to handle.

Preparing the Sugarcane

1
Cut sticks
Peel and cut sugarcane into sticks, ensuring they are uniform in size.
2
Soak
Soak sugarcane pieces in water for 30 minutes to prevent burning on the grill.
Tip: If using bamboo skewers, soak for at least 1 hour.
3
Dry
Remove and pat dry before use.

How to Make Vietnamese Sugarcane Shrimp Skewers with Sweet Chili Sauce

Total time: 2 h · Yields 4 servings

1
Forming Skewers
Take a small amount of shrimp paste and wrap it around each sugarcane stick evenly.
2
Grilling Skewers
Preheat grill to medium heat, brush skewers with vegetable oil, and grill until golden and cooked through (10–12 minutes).
3
Sweet Chili Sauce
Combine rice vinegar, sugar, fish sauce, garlic, and chili in a small saucepan. Simmer on low heat until sugar dissolves and sauce thickens slightly.